POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (AP) — Ed DeGaris may be the new mayor of Poplar Bluff, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s dropping plans for a lawsuit against the southeast Missouri town.

The city council chooses the mayor from among its members in Poplar Bluff, and DeGaris was selected on Monday. The retired police lieutenant has been contemplating legal action against the city due to disagreement over 12-hour shifts when he was a police office.

DeGaris tells the Popular Bluff Daily American Republic that he is still considering filing the lawsuit. He says that if he does and a conflict of interest arises at a meeting, he will leave the room and abstain from any vote.

DeGaris was elected alderman in 2009. He was unopposed in seeking the mayoral seat.

___

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press